The Academy By DivaBee

Meet Our Teachers

Owner/Founder

Jalyn Courtenay Webb

Not only is Jalyn known as a singer, actor and theatre mainstay in Northern Colorado, she has also been passionate and involved in arts education in Northern Colorado since 1990. As a college student, Jalyn began teaching classes at the Colorado Academy of the Arts in Fort Collins, where she also performed with the touring groups ENCORE and eLeMeNO-P. She was passionate about sharing her love of the arts, and begin teaching workshops and master classes in schools in Loveland, Greeley, Fort Collins and Windsor. She created a second location of CAA in Greeley while she was attending UNC, and by the end of her time there had 50 students all attending classes at the UCCC Rec center.

Awards

Henry Awards:

Best Actress – Always Patsy Cline 2017

Best Music Direction – Les Miserables, Motones vs. Jerseys

Best Supporting Actress – South Pacific

Best New Musical –Take to the Highway (Producer)

True West Award (Audience Favorite): Best Supporting Actress, Les Miserables

Di Smice Award – Favorite Faculty Member 2018, UNC Department of Theatre and Dance

Learn More

Over the years, Jalyn has stayed connected with kids in the arts, and has spent time teaching and creating classes for arts professionals, directing and music directing High School shows across the Front Range, and in 2015 she left her full time corporate life to begin a lifelong journey of owning her own performing arts academy right here in Fort Collins.
The Academy by Divabee is a place where kids of all ages can learn about performance, music, dance, acting, and most importantly- kindness. We seek to create a space of positivity, inclusivity and friendship.

Jalyn has her B.A from the University of Northern Colorado, and postgraduate studies in Music Education. She was a teacher at Traut Core Knowledge ( formerly Washington Core ) and created lesson plans that were selected to be presented at the National Core Knowledge Convention. She currently is on the faculty at UNC and teaches in the Music Theatre Department.

Jill Van Orden

Director of Elementary Programs

Jill Van Orden is affectionately known as Miss Jill to children and teen performers throughout the greater Fort Collins’ area. As a free-lance choreographer for local high schools and other local performing arts organizations, Mrs. Van Orden choreographed over 20 full-length musical productions between 2000-2012. In 2012, she founded her non-profit organization Arts Reach Center, Inc. offering year-round performing arts opportunities both in her studio and through outreach programs to local public schools. Through Arts Reach Center (now Foundation), Miss Jill produced and directed over 40 productions at local performance venues and many local schools. Miss Jill is best known for the inclusive, thoughtful, and supportive environment she creates with each and every cast while teaching performance skills, developing self-confidence, and life-skills to each and every student. She is excited to join forces with Ms. Jalyn Courtney Webb of The Academy by Divabee to continue providing quality performing arts education for the Fort Collins greater community.

Lincoln

Resident Music Director

Lincoln Brandt is a student studying Music Education at CSU with a focus on singing. He grew up participating in shows and musicals with the Academy and the Arts Reach Center. He began teaching students with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 2020, and has been teaching and directing music at the Academy ever since.

Lincoln is at home in front of students, taking every opportunity to help students learn all there is to know and love about music, whether it’s an interesting chord sequence, a quick lesson in music history, or finding new connections within a song or a whole musical. He works to create a team mentality in casts he works with, and wants every student to have fun learning music with each other. He’s looking forward to teaching the Little Mermaid, a show he performed in while at Fort Collins High School in 2019.

Lincoln also offers private instruction in piano, voice, guitar, AND music theory!
Rates:
$30 per half hour
$50 per hour

Email Lincoln to Book!

Amanda High School Camp Director

Director of Middle & High School Programs

Amanda has a BFA in Musical Theater and is so honored to be an instructor at the Academy by Divabee! She grew up right here in Fort Collins, taking dance and theatre classes at the original Colorado Academy of the Arts. She has performed professionally in Utah, Colorado, Montana, and New York City. The most rewarding part of teaching is seeing a new skill “click” into place – whether it’s a new dance move, mix/belt placement, confidence & stage presence, or leadership skills throughout the rehearsal process.

Amanda has a two year old son who keeps her very busy when she’s not teaching classes, and who sometimes makes a guest appearance as her (very helpful) teaching assistant. Amanda also works as a portrait photographer with her small business, The Tiny Studio.

Thank you for trusting us with your awesome kids! I love seeing them grow into wonderful performers and human beings.

Checkout Amanda's Photography Website

Meg 4th-8th Grade Camp Director

Meg Steen (she/her) is a recent graduate from Oberlin College, where she studied music and linguistics. She grew up in Boulder, where she was an active performer in both community and school productions, and she moved to Fort Collins to be with her family after graduating college. Meg has spent the last year working with children in a variety of settings—theater, academic tutoring, and after-school female empowerment classes. She loves to spread her love of community and passion for learning to the next generation, and is so happy that she gets to do that with the Academy by Divabee.

Emily 4th-8th Grade Camp Director

Emily is currently studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, but her roots can be found in Fort Collins theatre. She began acting at the age of eight and has been hooked ever since. Some of her roles include “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” (Sally), “The Little Mermaid” (Flounder), and “Is He Dead?” (Cecile Leroux). She assisted in DivaBee’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and was the outreach coordinator for Poudre High School’s drama club. She loves the community and connection found in theatre. She is forever thankful for Jill Van Orden’s mentorship, as well as her family’s ongoing and unwavering support.

Nic High School Camp Director

Nic Rhodes has been performing since they were three years old and plans to never stop. They grew up as a student of the Academy when it was using the Midtown Arts Center space and has evolved into a teaching role. They’ve proudly worked on Matilda, Peter Pan, and Cats and are so stoked to have another directing and choreographing opportunity with Divabee under their belt. Recently having graduated from Colorado Mesa University with a BFA in Music Theatre, they now reside at the Candlelight as box office extraordinaire.

Tiana Rehearsal Stage Manager

Tiana Fuentes is a 4th year at CSU pursuing a double major in Theatre Performance and Business Marketing. She has been teaching in theater camps in and around Fort Collins for a few years. She’s also directed children’s productions such as Willy Wonka and 101 Dalmatians! Some of her past performance credits include Mrs. White in Clue (RMHS), Lucy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Arts Reach Center), and #8 in The Wolves (CSU). Tiana has been assisting Jill Van Orden in Storybook Theater and fall classes for about 4 years. She loves kids and finds great joy in sharing her passion for theater with the younger generation.

Along with this unparalleled musical theatre training, we offer the chance to “be seen” by other professionals in the business (agents, casting directors, choreographers, composers, directors, producers) .We offer multiple productions each year!

FAQ

Frequently Asked

COVID-19 Safety Protocols

-All State and County mandates will be followed.

-Social-distancing as necessary

-Strict Adherence to staying home if you do not feel well at all - this is SUPER important!

-Regular cleaning and sanitizing throughout the day

What should students bring to class?

-writing utensil

-Water bottle

-Appropriate shoes - dance shoes or clean close-toed shoes you can move in. We have a dance floor that REQUIRES new, soft-soled shoes. Outdoor shoes cannot be worn!

-Any materials that your teacher may give you (always a good idea to have a binder or folder for papers)

-a good attitude!

How do I register for camps and classes?

If you are a new student, please create an account here.

Specific registration information can be found on the 'Our Classes' page or at the top of this page.

Cancellation Policy

Please contact admin@divabeeproductions.com if you need to cancel your registration.

10-week or semester classes and productions can be cancelled for account credit for future classes and camps.

Summer camp productions have specific dates for cancelling for a refund with deposit or account credit. Please visit the detailed Summer Camp pages for those dates.